George Abaraonye, the former president-elect of the prestigious Oxford Union, has issued a public and heartfelt apology to the family of Charlie Kirk, expressing deep regret for comments he made celebrating the political activist's fatal shooting in September.
A Controversial Reaction and Its Fallout
The 20-year-old PPE student at University College, Oxford, sparked immediate outrage when he wrote in a WhatsApp group for Union members: 'Charlie Kirk got shot, let's f****** go'. He posted a similar message on his Instagram account.
Speaking to The Times, Mr Abaraonye now claims his reaction came before the full gravity of the incident was known. "I had very little context for what I was reacting to, but I wanted to start a conversation… I missed the mark… and that's why I deleted and retracted my comments," he explained.
He directly addressed Kirk's family, stating, "I want to offer my apologies and my condolences. No one deserves to lose a husband, no child deserves to grow up without a father. I hope that they are able, in some capacity, to move on from what was a tragic event and to that end, I am very sorry."
The Road to a No-Confidence Vote
The controversy proved catastrophic for Abaraonye's nascent presidency. It ultimately led to a motion of no confidence in his leadership. A chaotic vote, which was paused amid claims of 'obstruction, intimidation and unwarranted hostility', ended with more than 1,200 members backing his removal from the role.
Although Abaraonye appealed the decision, citing 'irregularities', he was unsuccessful. This cleared the way for Katherine Yang to take over the presidency. Reflecting on the outcome, Abaraonye said he was "gutted" but is now ready for closure, expressing gratitude that the ordeal is over.
Polarised Politics and Personal Consequences
The incident highlights the intensely polarised nature of modern political discourse, particularly online. Abaraonye had previously served on the Union committee that approved Kirk's invitation, describing him as a figure with "national influence... almost a direct line to the president".
He admitted he reacted to the news without proper research, and once his comments became a headline, he faced a torrent of abuse. He reported receiving racist abuse, including being told to be 'shot' and 'deported from the UK', despite being born in London. He also cited AI-generated videos that were created to attack him personally.
The backlash took a severe personal toll, leading to what he described as a breakdown. His college subsequently introduced support measures. As a working-class student who grew up on free school meals, he warned that such intense backlash could deter other black students from participating fully in life at elite institutions like Oxford.
